Calcium alginate fibres

Fraser R, Gilchrist T. Sorbsan calcium alginate fibre dressings in footcare. Biomaterials 1983 4 222-224. 

When a water-insoluble calcium alginate fibre is in contact with wound exudates, the calcium ions exchange with sodium ions in the body fluid and calcium ions release. Calcium ions can act as a haemostatic agent. When in contact with the wound, calcium alginate fibre slowly turns into a sodium alginate fibre it absorbs a large quantity of exudates and turns itself into a gel, which helps keep a moist interface on the wound surface. 

Algisite M (non-woven calcium alginate fibre. Smith Nephew) may be used for the management of minor conditions such as lacerations and abrasions or for the management of full- and partial-thickness wounds including leg, pressure, or diabetic foot ulcers and surgical wounds. 

Kaltocarb (calcium alginate fibre bonded to a layer of activated charcoal cloth with an outer layer composed of spun bonded viscose, ConvaTec) is indicated for use as a primary dressing in the management of malodorous wounds including fungating carcinomas, leg ulcers, and pressure sores. 

The water pick-up and retention capability of the fibres are influenced by the fibre composition and less significantly by variation in draw ratios. The calcium alginate fibres showed reasonable water retention capacity as high as 9.9 times their original we ht The alginates retention of saline solution however, is much less. Saline being identical to serum found in wounds is a better indicator of absorbency in natural wound envirmuneot. The reduced retention or absorbency can be attributed to the presence of the salts in the saline solution. The fibres ability to absorb moisture has obviously been reduced by the salts present in the solution. 

The calcium alginate fibres demonstrated an expected increase in tenacity wih increasing draw ratios. The tenacities increased fiom 4.7 cN/tex (at 1.15 draw ratio) to lO.S cN/tex (at 1.31 draw ratio), see Table 2. The tenacity of the alchite fibres also increased as draw ratio... 

Kaltostat (calcium/sodium alginate fibres in non-woven pads, ConvaTec) is used for moderafely to highly exuding chronic and acute wounds and for wounds with minor bleeding. 

Calcium alginate and alchhe fibres were produced at different draw ratios and tested for fibre diameter, linear density and liquid absorption characteristics s given in Table 1. 

Tarun, K. and Gobi, N. (2012) Calcium alginate/ PVA blended nanofibre matrix for wound dressing. Indian J. Fibre Tex. Res., 37, 127-132. 

---